California is officially adding glyphosate, the active ingredient in the omnipresent weed-killer Roundup, to its list of carcinogens today.

“People are wondering: can we live without weed killers like Roundup that have been tied to health risks and have we become far too reliant on them?” asked Kara Cook, U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s Toxics Director.

Multiple cities across the country, including two in California, already are in the process of eliminating glyphosate from their public spaces. These pioneering communities are using both new and old-fashioned weed removal methods to maintain beautiful, healthy and safe greenery without jeopardizing the public health.

Ten cities are highlighted in the report called Thriving Communities Guide: 10 Places Where You Can Live Roundup-Free. Those cities are:

Boulder, Colorado

Carrboro, North Carolina

Charlottesville, Virginia

Dubuque, Iowa

Takoma Park, Maryland

Evanston, Illinois

Irvine, California

Richmond, California

Portland, Oregon

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Some of the helpful weed-killing tips include:

Mow grass higher

Plant seeds closer together

Mulch flower beds

Spot-spray weeds with vinegar, soap, hot water and other safe household items

Keep soil healthy with natural fertilizer

“These cities using these methods are a blueprint for how we can all enjoy our environment safely, without the downside of dangerous chemicals,” said Cook. “The report is truly ‘news you can use,’ not just for consumers, but especially for local governments responsible for their townspeople’s well-being.”

U.S. PIRG Education Fund is an independent, non-partisan group that works for consumers and the public interest. Through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety or well-being.